Literary agents who want high stakes writing

Phrasemill lists literary agents who want high stakes, based on what they say on their public websites. “high stakes” is a tone tag; its identifier is high-stakes. 40 agents currently want it. Agents whose websites say they are closed to submissions are omitted. The quoted evidence for each tag is on the agent's profile. How it works.

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Agents (1–25 of 40)

Monica MacSwan
Aitken Alexander Associates · GB
Says: “high-stakes love story”
I am actively building a list of new writers, and forthcoming debuts I represent include Aea Varfis-van Warmelo’s genre-bending novel Attention-Seeking Behaviour (Peninsula Press), Moya Lothian-McLean’s rom-com Matchmake…
Clare Wallace
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Clare is building both the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency and the Darley Anderson Illustration Agency lists and also represents a boutique list of commercial adult fiction in both the UK and US. Clare’s very busy wit…
Jade Kavanagh
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Says: “high society, high stakes, and high drama”
Jade represents a list of thriller, horror and book club authors. She represents a growing list of authors writing book club fiction, suspense, thrillers and horror. Since then, Jade has continued to build a dynamic li…
Maddalena Cavaciuti
David Higham Associates · GB
Says: “emotional stakes that feel impossible to ignore”
I represent adult and YA romance, fantasy, crime & thriller. Across the board I am looking for hooky one-line pitches, compelling characters, and the kind of stories which turn into obsessions. I'm a fangirl at heart and…
Stephanie Glencross
David Higham Associates · GB
Says: “stakes are deeply personal”
I am obsessed with crime, thriller, and dark commercial fiction. I’m looking for dark, gripping commercial fiction that completely absorbs me: books where I care about the characters and find myself reading far later th…
Maddy Belton
Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency · GB
Says: “romance with a high stakes”
Maddy is a Literary Agent specialising in SFF and romance Maddy joined Madeleine Milburn Agency in 2022 to build a list specialising in SFF and romance. She represents adult and YA fantasy, science fiction, horror and…
Alice Caprio
Peters Fraser & Dunlop · London
I am actively building a list that spans middle grade, YA and crossover fiction across all genres and selective adult fiction in the SFF space. My taste skews more commercial than literary, and I love fiction with a dis…
Lisette Verhagen
Peters Fraser & Dunlop · London
Says: “a sense of urgency”
Lisette is actively building a literary list with a strong focus on international clients for sale both to the UK and around the world. I’m especially looking for literary fiction and narrative non-fiction with great in…
Eleanor Lawlor
The Soho Agency · London
She is actively acquiring and particularly looking for romance, fantasy and YA submissions. Some themes she’d like to see: Anything rooted in contemporary Irish culture or folklore Romance from across the board: spicy…
Lydia Silver
The Soho Agency · London
Says: “enormous stakes, scale and ambition”
Lydia represents everything from picture books to the top end of crossover YA, and she particularly enjoyed working with author/illustrator talent, including graphic novelists. No matter the story, Lydia is drawn to voi…
Lisa Abellera
Kimberley Cameron & Associates · US
Says: “high personal stakes”
In adult fiction, she represents literary, upmarket/book club, and women’s fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, and crossover speculative fiction. With children’s fiction,…
Marisa Corvisiero
Corvisiero Literary Agency · US
Marisa will judge each story not just on the writing, but also with an eye toward finding creative stories with well developed plots and rich characters with unique voices. She is always hoping for stories with standout…
Laura Crockett
Triada US Literary Agency · US
Vice President & Executive Literary Agent Laura Crockett is interested in upmarket, character-driven adult and YA fiction with emotional depth, compelling stakes, and diversity. In both markets she is seeking fantasy––e…
Claire Draper
Au Literary Management · US
Claire represents adult romance, graphic novels, young adult, nonfiction, memoir, and select picture books. They prefer to work with books that are funny, lighthearted, romantic, and hopeful, with a fast pace, high stake…
Caroline Eisenmann
Frances Goldin Literary Agency · US
Says: “intensity and stakes on the page”
In nonfiction she is drawn to narrative and idea-driven work shaped by expansive curiosity, especially projects that render the hidden structures of the world more legible. Her areas of interest include science, technolo…
Christine Goss
FinePrint Literary Management · US
Says: “stories with high stakes and tension”
Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components Chris…
Ashley Lopez
Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents · US
Says: “writers who aren't afraid to raise the stakes”
She is drawn to writing that creates its own sense of movement on the page, and stories that center unforgettable characters and singular experiences that, once captured, speak to something universal. She loves writers w…
Natascha Morris
Tobias Literary Agency · US
Natascha’s editorial philosophy stems from the idea that all books should be well written and entertaining, and that all children should see themselves and their lives in books. Natascha is primarily looking for bold, e…
Maeve MacLysaght
Aevitas Creative Management · US
Says: “stories with big, campy stakes”
The goal of her list is to increase the amount of queer and BIPOC joy in the world, and to make space for marginalized authors to rework the tropes that historically oppressed them. She is looking for strong commercial…
Ashlee MacCallum
Howland Literary · US
Says: “High-stakes emotional arcs and tension”
She has a soft spot for speculative stories, mysteries, and anything delightfully weird, and is seeking high-concept, voice-driven adult fiction with strong emotional stakes, a clear hook, and broad commercial appeal. Sh…
Jeanne De Vita
Martin Literary Management · US
Adult romance and romantasy; select women's fiction, genre fiction and nonfiction She is excited by strong voices and compelling stories across the sub-genres of fiction, with a specific interest in romance, fantasy, th…
Katie Erickson
Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency · US
She represents picture books, as well as middle-grade and young-adult literature, specifically focusing on author-illustrators. I am eager for character-driven stories that explore what it means to be human while leavin…
Michelle Hauck
Storm Literary Agency · US
Now she’d like to advocate for stories that take the reader beyond the traditional hero’s journey. Currently, Michelle represents middle grade, young adult, and some limited adult genres. Drawn to all sorts of stories…
Vicky Weber
Fuse Literary · US
Lydia CaudillReferral only
Andrea Hurst Literary Management · US
Lydia is excited to build a diverse client list of her own and partner with authors to craft and share meaningful stories that leave a lasting impact on readers. Lydia is looking for the following in Fiction (primarily…

Literary agents who want high stakes writing

Agents (1–25 of 40)

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